1
as in paradox
someone or something with qualities or features that seem to conflict with one another
a loving father as well as a ruthless killer, the gangster is a living contradiction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in denial
a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement
the actress's contradiction of the marriage rumor caused quite a stir
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of contradiction
The book scans as a form of redress—an attempt to reconcile not only the demands of the workplace with the true self but also the apparent contradiction between competitiveness and care.
—
Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The state’s mythology, from its tropical postcards to its dark histories, mirrors the contradictions of the American project.
—Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
In a career-best performance that could very well earn him his third acting nomination at the Academy Awards (and his fifth overall), Hawke captures Hart’s many contradictions as both a brilliant songwriter and an alcoholic with a penchant for self-destructive behavior.
—Max Gao, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2025
That contradiction of hope and aching despair goes beyond the music, running right through the roots of the show.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contradiction
Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The state’s mythology, from its tropical postcards to its dark histories, mirrors the contradictions of the American project.
—Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
In a career-best performance that could very well earn him his third acting nomination at the Academy Awards (and his fifth overall), Hawke captures Hart’s many contradictions as both a brilliant songwriter and an alcoholic with a penchant for self-destructive behavior.
—Max Gao, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2025
That contradiction of hope and aching despair goes beyond the music, running right through the roots of the show.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contradiction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contradiction
Noun
-
The film lays bare the tensions and paradoxes of nuclear deterrence, said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, which advocates for nuclear arms control.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Consumers are caught in a paradox; the warnings are everywhere, yet the alternatives are nowhere.—
Jahan Marcu,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Gibson, meanwhile, stuck to his denials.—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
-
As the attacks were ongoing, so was a parallel exchange of accusations, denials, and access reversals.—
Anna Halford,
Time,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Research shows that people who acknowledge or apologize for rejection risk activating the rejectee’s ire, rather than alleviating hurt feelings.—
Anna Holmes,
The Atlantic,
20 Oct. 2025
-
And the ego needed to overcome shyness and stage fright collides with the endless rejection that defines the profession.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contradiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contradiction. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share